Exterior mirror having a display that can be viewed by a host driver or drivers of other vehicles

Abstract

A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror back plate having a display receiving portion established thereat and being molded to have an integral light baffle at the display receiving portion. A display element attached to the display receiving portion of the mirror back plate and a light source is activatable to emit light through the display receiving portion and through the light baffle. The light baffle is configured to allow light emanating from the display element to pass through the light baffle at a predetermined angle so that light exiting the mirror reflective element when the light source is activated is viewable from one direction, while the light baffle substantially shields the light emanating from the display element so that the light is substantially non-viewable from another direction.

1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
 a mirror reflective element; 
 a mirror back plate attached at a rear surface of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate formed by injection molding and having a display receiving portion established thereat, said mirror back plate being molded to have an integral light baffle at said display receiving portion; 
 a display element having a light source that is activatable to emit light, said display element attaching to said display receiving portion of said mirror back plate and said light source being activatable to emit light through said display receiving portion and through said light baffle; and 
 wherein said light baffle is configured to allow light emanating from said display element to pass through said light baffle at a predetermined angle so that light exiting said mirror reflective element when said light source is activated is viewable from a direction that is one of (a) generally away from the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles and so as to be substantially not viewed by the driver of the host vehicle, and (b) generally toward the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle so as to be principally viewed by the driver of the host vehicle and so as to be substantially not viewed by drivers of other vehicles, said light baffle substantially shielding the light emanating from said display element so that the light is substantially non-viewable from another direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said display element makes mechanical connection with said display receiving portion when attached thereto. 
     
     
       3. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said display element makes electrical connection with said display receiving portion when attached thereto. 
     
     
       4. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said display element substantially seals with said display receiving portion when attached thereto such that said display element and said display receiving portion are substantially water impervious. 
     
     
       5. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said display receiving portion includes at least one passageway therethrough, said emitted light being directed through said at least one passageway. 
     
     
       6. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said display element comprises an illumination source and a translucent element, said illumination source being activatable to emit illumination, whereby said illumination is transmitted through said translucent element and diffused by said translucent element such that said translucent element emanates a substantially uniform glow when said illumination source is activated. 
     
     
       7. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said back plate is adhered at said rear surface of said reflective element. 
     
     
       8. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a heater pad disposed between said back plate and said reflective element. 
     
     
       9. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said light baffle is configured such that said light emanating from said display element when said light source is activated and when the mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle is principally viewable by the driver of the vehicle and is substantially not viewable by drivers of other vehicles. 
     
     
       10. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said display element is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said light baffle is configured such that said light emanating from said display element when said light source is activated and when the mirror assembly is mounted at the vehicle is principally viewable by drivers of other vehicles and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the host vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The mirror reflective element sub-assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said display element is associated with a turn signal of the vehicle.